Acute and chronic diarrhea, what is the difference between the two?

Diarrhea can affect anyone, from young to old. Stomach upset, nausea, and frequent bowel movements with loose stools are the main signs of diarrhea. Well, did you know that diarrhea has its own classification of diseases? Types of diarrhea are generally divided into acute and chronic based on the length of time they were sick. So, what is the difference between the two? However, the type is not only that, you know!

The difference between acute and chronic diarrhea

Depending on how long the duration lasts, the classification of diarrhea can be divided into two, namely acute and chronic diarrhea. Now in most cases, diarrhea treatment will be adjusted to the cause of diarrhea and the type experienced by the person.

Here's how to distinguish between acute and chronic diarrhea that you need to know so you don't get it mishandled.

1. Acute diarrhea

Acute diarrhea is a symptom of diarrhea that appears suddenly and lasts for about 3 days to about a week. If described, those of you who are initially healthy immediately get diarrhea after being exposed to food or germs that cause diarrhea, Acute diarrhea itself is then divided into two types, namely:

Acute watery diarrhea

Diarrhea is characterized by liquid stool that lasts from several hours to several days, but not more than two weeks.

Apart from watery stools, people who experience watery diarrhea will also experience stomach ulcers, nausea, and vomiting.

In most cases, watery diarrhea is caused by rotavirus infection in infants and young children or norovirus infection in adults.

Acute bloody diarrhoea

Acute bloody diarrhea is also called dysentery, which is caused by a bacterial infection Entamoeba histolytica or Shigella bacillus in the digestive tract.

The length of time the disease lasts usually ranges from 1-3 days, with the appearance of symptoms in the form of:

Severe stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting
Fever chills
Bloody and slimy stools
The body is tired

Acute bloody diarrhea due to bacteria Shigella generally lighter and can heal without in a few days. Meanwhile, a bacterial infection Entamoeba can penetrate the intestinal wall to damage organs. Blood in the stool in this type of acute diarrhea is caused by an open wound in the intestine caused by the bacterial attack

Treatment of this type of diarrhea is to prevent dehydration through additional fluid intake, be it water, ORS, or intravenous fluids. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics alone or in combination with amoebicidal drugs.

2. Chronic diarrhea

If acute diarrhea lasts for about 1-2 weeks, the chronic diarrhea lasts longer. Symptoms of chronic diarrhea can last up to 4 weeks, or more. The average disease can be said to be chronic if it has been suffered for a long time or develops slowly.

Common causes of chronic diarrhea are long-term gastrointestinal infections or certain medical problems, such as inflammation.

If the cause is unknown after passing a basic examination, your doctor may attribute it to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This syndrome can cause symptoms of diarrhea as well as constipation, nausea, bloating, and heartburn.

Chronic diarrhea can also be caused by Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Apart from making the stool runny, these two conditions can cause blood in the stool along with abdominal pain. Chronic diarrhea caused by this disease is also known as exudative diarrhea.

Other causes of chronic diarrhea include taking NSAIDs, having diabetes or HIV, drinking alcohol and eating excess gluten foods.

Diarrhea that lasts longer than acute diarrhea can also be caused by certain foods that stimulate the absorption process in the intestines more quickly. Examples of foods that are more likely to cause chronic diarrhea are milk and foods containing sorbitol or fructose.

Persistent diarrhea, a type of diarrhea between acute and chronic

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, persistent diarrhea is diarrhea that lasts more than 14 days, but not more than 4 weeks. So, it can be concluded that this type of diarrhea lasts longer than acute diarrhea but shorter than chronic diarrhea.

Persistent diarrhea occurs due to infection, be it viruses, bacteria, or parasites. This type of diarrhea causes prolonged watery stools accompanied by weight loss. In infants and children, this diarrhea can cause malnutrition (malnutrition) if not handled properly.

According to a report from the journal Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition, diarrhea that lasts longer than acute diarrhea is divided into two, namely:

Osmotic diarrhea

This type of diarrhea occurs when the food in the intestines is not properly absorbed. As a result, excess fluid is wasted with feces and makes the stool runny.

Osmotic diarrhea can occur due to certain types of food and medications. Foods that cause persistent diarrhea include lactose, artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and saccharin.

While drugs that trigger osmotic diarrhea are the use of antibiotics, hypertension drugs, and laxatives that contain active ingredients such as sodium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium phosphate.

People with this type of diarrhea should avoid trigger foods and medications. The doctor will prescribe a medical diarrhea medication to treat it.

Secretory diarrhea

This type of diarrhea that is longer than acute diarrhea is caused by disturbed secretions in the small intestine or large intestine in absorbing electrolytes.

When there is enough water in the body, water will be discharged into the small intestine, which is impaired. This water secretion (discharge) in the intestine will exceed the ability of the intestines to absorb, thus making the stool runny.

Apart from bacterial infections E. coli This type of persistent diarrhea can also be caused by the production of certain hormones due to the presence of hormones, the use of antidepressants, and metal or insecticide poisoning.

Go to the doctor to find out what type of diarrhea you have

Knowing the cause of diarrhea, whether it is acute, chronic, or persistent will help your doctor determine the right treatment for you.

Because of this, some doctors may recommend that you do medical tests, such as blood tests, image scans, and observing stool samples.

If you experience diarrhea with disturbing symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. In severe cases it can lead to dehydration and other severe complications.

So, diarrhea should not be underestimated. The sooner you visit the doctor, the easier the treatment will be and prevent the diarrhea from getting worse.